After the early breakfast, they returned to their car and hung out as the train continued onward through the empty fields white with snow.
Time slowed down just for them, for that one special day.
Nothing broke the peaceful tranquil of that train ride. The rhythmic clack-clack of the train and the steady dull rumble of the car's movement were the only sounds that permeated throughout the car.
At first, Devin was mesmerized by the passing scenery with the occasional weatherbeaten barn or farm house with smoking chimneys. They were all capped with a thick layer of pristine fluffy snow, nestled into the foothills of the mountainous terrain.
After awhile, when there was nothing left to break the monotony of the view outside the train windows but a few random scattered black skeletal trees covered with glistening ice, he got bored.
Cedric was also looking a bit fatigued so at her suggestion, he went to lie down on the sofa while Talia sat at the table drawing little pictures for Devin to color with his little fat crayons.
As the early morning stretched into late morning, it got a bit chilly inside the train car. She continued to maintain the fire across from the sofa where Cedric lay to keep everyone comfortable, even as the temperature continued to plummet.
By noon, the temperature had dropped down even further so Talia gently covered Cedric with a light quilt as he continued to sleep.
She could not help but stop to stare at the way that the light glistened on his long blond hair spread out over the pillows like molten gold.
His fair regal brows framed his face like angel's wings over thick dark lashes that should have belong on a girl. His barely parted pink lips were full and lush and so beautiful that Talia almost dropped her head to kiss him.
Almost.
But she let him sleep in peace and went back to making plastic clay figures and playing with Devin.
The train sounds continued to mask Cedric's deep even breathing and the low mumbles and light laughter of Devin playing with his little clay people and animals that Talia created for him.
Late morning stretched into noon and it was time for lunch.
By this time, Cedric had awakened but he continued to lie there on the sofa, watching the fire and the peaceful scene of Talia playing with the clay figures she had made with Devin.
By the time the servers came in with a trolley of covered dishes, Cedric had gotten up and joined them at the table.
Talia cleared all the clay figures they had been playing with to make way for lunch which consisted of hot tomato Florentine soup, warm rolls, and Devin's favorite little bite-sized corn dog pieces.
"We're making pretty good time." Cedric said in between spoonfuls of soup. "I knew that snow had fallen throughout the area and I was expecting delays, especially if they had to stop the train to dig the tracks out, but it seems as if it's been fairly well-maintained."
"So we should arrive at your home soon?" Talia blew on a spoon of soup and spoon-fed Devin his small portion.
"We should be able to arrive by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, but don't worry. The servants will do all the work of moving. The only thing you are responsible for is to keep Devin and me safe, warm, and happy."
Talia laughed. "Of course, I will continue to take care of Devin, but it would be a bit difficult to keep you safe, warm, and happy since you are an adult and can do all these things for yourself."
"My Talia, you kept me safe, warm, and happy all morning long while I slept." He smiled, feeling the residual warmth of the morning's nap.
In truth, he didn't actually sleep the entire morning, but it was such a nice warm feeling, lying next to his nephew and his woman that he kept falling in and out of sleep.
At the moment she placed the quilt over him, Cedric had awakened, not because of the soft quilt's touch but because he had picked up on the scent of her soft roses and lavender.
As she leaned over him, Cedric kept hoping she would drop a kiss on him. The nearness of her made him thirst for her touch so much that he almost pulled her down to claim that kiss, but at the last moment, she moved away and he lost his chance.
After lunch had been cleared out by the servers, Talia put Devin to sleep on the couch where his uncle had spent all morning. Talia was amused that the two were taking turns keeping that couch warm for the duration of the ride.
At this point, Hubert the manservant came into their train car with stacks of work for Cedric to look over. As he sat there at the table working, Talia pulled out Devin's drawing pad and began doodling for fun.
Devin had plenty of coloring books but he had gotten spoiled by having Talia draw various images for him to color that he would no longer color unless she drew the images for him.
As mindless as the doodles were, Talia found herself drawing Cedric's portraits as he sat there working. His features were so proportionate and beautiful that it was a joy to draw.
Within a matter of an hour, she had drawn half a dozen images of him doing various things at the desk.
There was the drawing of him reading a list of things. Another image showed him signing documents. Here was one where he was sharpening a pencil. There was another where he was biting on the pencil as he thought about whatever it was that Cedric thought about.
Drawing after drawing, all were of Cedric in various poses with his blond hair hanging down in long loose locks and his gentle eyes concentrating on his work.
"My word, you really are very talented at drawing!" Hubert exclaimed as he walked up behind her with yet another stack of things for the Duke to look over.
As Talia turned to him with a big smile, Duke Cedric frowned and put a finger to his lips, but it was too late. Hubert bit his lips and grimaced, mouthing a 'sorry' to the Duke.
Cedric sighed and shook his head. He had spent all morning long holding various poses as he worked so she could capture his likenesses, and now, she would stop drawing because Hubert had broken the spell.
Cedric had seen her making pictures for Devin to color and knew she drew with sharp realism, capturing almost photo-quality details with stunning artistic flair using little more than a child's number two pencil.
It had pained his heart to see Devin ruin all her good work with his scribbled crayon coloring until he realized that she had drawn the pictures for him to color on.
"Please, carry on. I am simply here to add more work to the Duke's heavy load."
Talia turned back to Cedric. "I'm not bad with numbers and such. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."
Cedric smiled. Her sweet offer touched him, but there was no way she could help him. The documents were all written in the Farian language.
"Thank you for your offer, Sweet Talia, but I can handle this bit of work. You sitting her and keeping me company is the best thing you can do for me."
Talia nodded with a wry grin. She could not see how sitting here doodling pictures was helping him in any way, but as long as he was happy, it was good enough for her.
"Your Grace, we've received word that the blizzard is currently hitting the capital city of Faria at this very moment."
"Hmmm. We've ridden through very snowy scapes."
"Sir, this is fairly light snow drift. The heavy wet blizzard is hitting the capital and burying everything in its path."
"Is there a possibility of delay?"
"Sir, there is a high possibility we could get stranded even before reaching the capital."
"Has the King been informed?"
"Yes, Sir."
Cedric shrugged. "There's not much we can do about the weather, obviously, but isn't there a small village that is in between here and the capitol? Perhaps we can stop there until the blizzard allows us passage through."
"Yes, Your Grace. Primrose village is rather lacking in amenities, but it will at least allow us to shelter there rather than be stuck in the middle of nowhere without any way to move forward or backwards."
"Make it happen Hubert."
"Yes Sir."